LIQUIÇA, 22 december 2023 (TATOLI) – The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry (MALFF) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) held a workshop to evaluate the progress of the establishment of the National Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (NIFA) and discuss the roadmap to ensure the sustainable development of NIFA.
The Secretary of State for Fisheries, Domingos da Conceição dos Santos, said that the workshop aimed to discuss how to ensure the sustainable development of NIFA by strengthening its institutional capacity and human resources.
“This workshop is crucial to discuss how to prepare human resources and strengthen the institution’s capacity to carry out research on fish seed production and hatchery management, including distribution, monitoring, and evaluation,” said Santos in Liquiça.
At the same venue, Eunju Cha, Country Director of KOICAI, said that the NIFA 2023 Year-End Workshop is essential to discuss the roadmap to ensure the sustainable development of the institute.
“On behalf of the Korean government, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Government of Timor-Leste for organizing this remarkable workshop,’’ she said.
In 2014, KOICA established NIFA, a vital institution for the development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector in Timor-Leste. In 2018, this institution was handed over to the government of Timor-Leste. However, challenges have arisen, including operational problems and electricity blackouts that have affected fish production.
“In response to these challenges, the Directorate General of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Resource Marine -MAF reached out to KOICA in 2021. In turn, KOICA conducted a thorough feasibility study, leading to the approval in 2023 of the “Follow-up Assistance for the Establishment of the National Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture (NIFA) of Timor-Leste” project. This initiative reflects our joint commitment to overcoming obstacles and promoting sustainable development of Timor-Leste,” Cha said.
She said that: “This follow-up project has three objectives. Firstly, it aims to strengthen institutional capacity by refining operational processes, issuing reports, ensuring data quality, organizing public hearings, and holding quarterly committee meetings. Secondly, the project focuses on capacity building within NIFA and beyond, aligning with core programs such as Seedling Production, Research and Development, and Education & Training. Lastly, there is a focus on ensuring sustainable energy infrastructure, with the provision of a solar energy & energy storage system and training for the NIFA electrician team.”
She said informed that financially, this project was given even greater meaning as it was carried out through co-financing between Timor-Leste and Korea, with Korea sharing US$838,000 and Timor-Leste sharing US$152,000.
“Today, I am proud to highlight some notable achievements: 1) A roadmap for NIFA’s development from 2023 to 2030 has been established, 2) Four important research and development actively led by NIFA’s Timorese researchers have been completed, and 3) various training sessions have been conducted. Collaborations with Heineken and the University of Timor-Leste are still ongoing, which will expand NIFA’s impact in Timor-Leste,’’ she added
On behalf of the Government of Korea through KOICA, Cha thanked the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry as well as Secretary of State for Fisheries for their long last partnership with KOICA: “I also express my sincere appreciation to the NIFA team for their hard work and also for the friendship and trust shown to Korean experts and KOICA’s commitment to continue supporting the government of Timor-Leste in its pursuit of increased welfare for its population. Together, we have the opportunity to shape a sustainable future for fisheries and aquaculture in Timor-Leste.”
During the workshop, there was also a presentation of fish food pellets by NIFA’s researcher for fish production in Timor-Leste. Fish feed pellets are made from beans, corn, and rice husks with the aim of reducing imported fish food.
NIFA’s Executive Director, Horácio Amaral Guterres, reported that from january to december 2023, NIFA had distributed more than 85,000 tilapia seeds to fish farmers across the country.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
